tellurium
[ te-loo r-ee-uh m ]
/ tɛˈlʊər i əm /
noun Chemistry.
a rare, lustrous, brittle, crystalline, silver-white element resembling sulfur in its properties, and usually occurring in nature combined with gold, silver, or other metals of high atomic weight: used in the manufacture of alloys and as a coloring agent in glass and ceramics. Symbol: Te; atomic weight: 127.60; atomic number: 52; specific gravity: 6.24.
Origin of tellurium
Words nearby tellurium
telluric,
telluric acid,
telluride,
tellurion,
tellurite,
tellurium,
tellurize,
telluro-,
tellurometer,
tellurous,
tellus
Example sentences from the Web for tellurium
British Dictionary definitions for tellurium
tellurium
/ (tɛˈlʊərɪəm) /
noun
a brittle silvery-white nonmetallic element occurring both uncombined and in combination with metals: used in alloys of lead and copper and as a semiconductor. Symbol: Te; atomic no: 52; atomic wt: 127.60; valency: 2, 4, or 6; relative density: 6.24; melting pt: 449.57±0.3°C; boiling pt: 988°C
Word Origin for tellurium
C19: New Latin, from Latin
tellūs the earth, formed by analogy with
uranium
Medical definitions for tellurium
tellurium
[ tĕ-lur′ē-əm ]
n. Symbol Te
A brittle metallic element usually found in combination with gold and other metals, used to alloy stainless steel and lead, and in thermoelectric devices. Atomic number 52.
Scientific definitions for tellurium
tellurium
[ tĕ-lur′ē-əm ]
Te
A metalloid element that occurs as either a brittle, shiny, silvery-white crystal or a gray or brown powder. Small amounts of tellurium are used to improve the alloys of various metals. Atomic number 52; atomic weight 127.60; melting point 449.5°C; boiling point 989.8°C; specific gravity 6.24; valence 2, 4, 6. See Periodic Table.